St. Landry democrat., 1887-10-29
ORIENTAL RAILW AVS.
STRANGE TRAVELLING COMPAN-
IONS MET WITH IN THE EAST.
The Mingling of Various Nationalities at
the Depots-A Big Nabob in Large
Country-Diferences in Dress-How
Trains are Made up-The Refreshments.
copyrighted. 1851

to Witness" writes an Indian traveller,
"Was on recent visit to Jubbulpoor, a
cantonment not far from the base of the
Vindhya range and close to the Nerbudda
river.
Il had been on visit to an old friend
who is serving as captain of infantry
in the garrison and was waiting at the
railway station for the train to arrive
which would convey me to Agra, place
of which had heard much and was very
anxious to visit. This train was expected
within half an hour of the time | arrived,
and as l walked up and down the wide
and level platform saw mingling of
nationalities and dress that could hardly
be witnessed in any other country.
cat the far end Of the platform and
just outside the refreshment room stood,
with his wife and family, the only other
European male adult within the building.
He had been pointed out to me the day
before as being commissioner for the
district. A big, burly fellow, of Irish
birth, he seemed to be looked upon by
the natives in his vicinity almost as
prince. His home estate takes up
goOdly portion of ground in the prov
ince of Munster. Dressed in a light
brown linen suit, with Oxford shoes and
sun-hat, or, as it is termed here, soar to-
pee, to which was fastened muslin band
falling behind the neck he was evidently a
little anxious concerning his charge, and
was busy giving orders to several native
servants and porters as to the DISPOSE
ton Of his baggage. His wife stood talk
ing to her daughters, two pretty girls of
comely shape and modest, ladylike de-
meanor. They were all neatly attred in
linen travelling dresses and seemed ready
and quite anxious to undertake the antic
ipated journey. An only son, a strip
ling Of some sixteen summers, kept close
by his fathers side and tried to help him
in carrying out the final arrangements for
their departure.
"A few yards from them stood the
Maharajah of Bhurtpoor, and his suite.
This high and mighty man, who has an
income per annum of at least one and
quarter million of dollars, and territory
extending over about 1000 square miles,
is considered big nabob, even in this
big country. Standing proudly erect,
his head being slightly thrown back, and
his tawny features being knitted some
what closely together in an almost con-
tinuous scowl, his whole aspect was one
of arrogance. He had evidently been
paying a visit in semi-state to some
friends in the neighborhood, for by his
side hung a splendid scimitar, the scab-
bard and hilt of which glittered with
hundreds of precious stones.
Like nearly all natives, the Maharajah
was attired in a simple cotton dress of
spotless white the coat being shaped
little like the frockcOat of civilized
countries, except that the sleeves were
tight and the body of the garment fitted
closely, being tied with tape at the side.
The front of the coat was splendidly
embroidered, in addition to having a
kind of embossed pattern stamped in the
spaces between the needlework. His
trousers, below the knees, were also
tightly fitting, and on his feet were pair
of soft leather shoes, the toes of which
came to sharp point and turned up
ward with a curve. These shoes were
entirely covered with gold from the top
rim of each to the edge of the sole. On
his head rested an immense turban of
pure white muslin in many folds, spark
ling here and there with little golden
ornaments.
'The members of the suite of this ex-
allied parsonage, composed of some
fifteen or twenty persons, were attlred
in similar but less costly manner. His
wife awaited the pleasure of her lord and
master in small inclosed palanquin or
jhampan, which had been placed in a
suitable shady spot outside the outer
gate.
mot far from this group stood num-
Der of Mohammedan merchants who were
expecting some friends. There was a
marked contrast between their behavior
and that of the party of aristocratic
Hindoos in attendance on the ruler of
Bhurtpoor. The latter stood silent yet
watchful around their chief, only leaving
their positions at his command. The
former were full of life and conversation,
chatting freely to acquaintance and
friends as they passed by.
''In dress, too, there was great differ
ence between the two groups, the traders
being robed in clothing of various bright
hues, the colors being printed in stripes
and checks almost like tartan. The
physique of the Mussulmans showed ex-
cellent anatomical proportions, whereas
the Hindoos were, almost WITHOUT eXcep-
ton, lank and shapeless.
"Strutting together on the platform, and
occasionally passing me on the way, were
three Parsees from the neighborhood of
Bombay. These people, as is commonly
known, are deyout sunworshipers.
Their bearing corresponds more nearly
to that of Europeans than any other class
of natives found on the peninsula
"This trio was clad in more sombre
hues, with coats of black cloth folding
over at the breast and buttoned at the
| side; white linen trousers, low-cut En-
| glish-shaped shoes, and narrow, conical-
shaped hat sloping back over the head as
if bent. They presented the appearance
| of persons who would like very much in
| deed to be considered as superior to the
ordinary native of any rank. The Par
| sees are shrewd fellows, well educated
| and we'll behaved. Their code of honor
| in commercial dealings is, I believe,
very strict, and usually acted up to in
most commendable way.
"Amid the crowd of coolies, lamp
trimmers, porters, and personal servants
could be distinguished here and there
a noble-looking, high-caste Brahmin
while standing at ease at the upper end OF
the platform was detachment of native
infantry dressed in zouave style, with
crimson coats and yellow turbans, and
commanded by a subadar of enormous